Filler valve



against the e valve capacity and spray filling of the 23 42 11 65 W 33 ii placeable valve e valve seat is removed for e member seats ga an carries a apted to seat against second is constructed and arranged to pressure container provided sing a replaceable valve seat ve member carried on a valve against the re replaceabl Bond 2,361,866 /1944 Norway...... Primary Examiner-William F ODea ssistant Examiner-William H. Wright Allegretti. Newitt & Witcoff 11y seat the first valv cm is elon ted d nd valve member on th ,502 9/1960 Norw Molinare,

A filler valve for a first seating means compri and a fixed valve seat. A first val stem is adapted to norma seat, however, when the repair or replacement second valve seat. The valve st second valve member thereon ad seating means. The valve stem permit long travel of the seco stem to provide improved flow pressure container.

Attorney ABSTRACT: with a United States Patent [72] Inventors WilllamAJitter [21] AppLNo. 735

[22] Filed Patented [73] Assignee [54] FILLER VALVE gii m l FILLER VALVE BACKGROUND OF THE-INVENTION monia, and the like, which fluids are a vapor at ambient conditions and a liquid at various other combination, pressures and temperatures. r

Filler valves are knownwhich comprise a two-piece valve body having'a flow passage therein. Fluid flow through the valve body is controlled by an upper spring -biased-valve and a lower spring-biased v'alveuThe upper valve which abuts against a seating shoulder in the valve body, includes a resilient part affixed to the main part ofthe upper valve by a screw. Repair or replacement of the resilient part is cumbersome without removal ofthe valve body from the tubular connecting coupling o'fthe pressure container.

The lower valve-member is gerierallymov'able only a relatively short'distance from its valve seat means..wherebyeven' when full open the lower valve member still lies within the tubular connecting coupling. The'fluid discharges through the.

filler valve into the pressure container or tankina straight stream. It is known thatif the volatile fluid, such as LP-gas, is sprayedinto the pressure container through the filler valve rather than discharged into the-pressure container in a straight I the pipe th readsthereon.

The filler valve comprises a valve body 16 which may be fabricated from a bar stock'part, a forging or'a like one-piece body construction. The valve body 16 is provided with external pipe threads at one end as indicated at 18 which are adapted to engage with internalpipe threads in the tubular connecting member 12 to permit threaded connection between the valve body 16 and the tubular connecting member 12. The .upper end of the tubular housing or valve body 16 is provided with Acme threads as indicated at 20 for affixation to a suitable conduit or filler connection 15, which may be secured to a source of pressurized fluid adapted to. be charged into the container or pressure tank'l4. The one-piece body eliminates a seal that was required between the two halves or sections of prior known valve bodies. one section having the Acme threads thereon and the other section having The valve body 16 is provided with first and second seating means 23 and 25 cooperating with first and second valve means. The first seating means23 which is s adapted to be engaged by a valve member 22 includes a pair of valve seats. The

first valve seat or primary seat comprises a resilient annular stream,- th'e fill ratewould be'greater. Separate devices have Y sometimes been attached to the inside of the pressure container or to the filler-valve for accomplishing spray filling.

These separate devices have not been entirely satisfactory and have added to the cost of the installation and, thus, are undesirable. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved filler valve for apre'ssure container for a fluid, such as liquefied petroleum gas, which filler valve is provided with first and second seating means for'an upper and a lower valve therein, the first seating means comprising a replaceable primary resilient seat ring defining a first seat and an annular shoulder defining a' second seat against which the upper valve is adapted to "seat w'hen'the resilient seat ring is removed for repair or replacement,.the resilient seat ring being replaceable without. removal of the tiller valve tainer. 1

Another object of the present invention is to provide a filler valve having first and second seating means and first and second valves cooperating with said seating means, said second valvebeing slidable on an elongated support stem independently of the first valve means, so as to permit long travel away from the secondvalve seat,and thereby facilitate spray filling of the liquid into the pressure container to which the filler valve is connected. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A presently preferred form of the present invention is shown in the attached drawing wherein:

FIG. .1 isa cross-sectional view of a filler valve embodying -the presetpresentinvention in place 'in a pressurecontainer,

with the two valves in the filler valve shown'c1osed;'

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of afiller valve embodying the present inventio'nin place in 'a pressure container, with the DESCRlPTION or The PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 7 Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a filler valve 10 embodying the present invention in place within the tubular connecting member 12, that is welded or otherwise suitably secured in the top of the pressure tank or container 14.

from the pressure conseat ring'memb'er 24 which projects radially inwardly, so that it can be engaged by the frustoconical surface 26 of the valve member 22 for line contact sealing engagement therewith.

The resilient seat ring member 24 is removably secured within the valve body 16 by means of a retainer member 28. The resilient ring 24 provides a primary seal with the valve member 26. In the event that the resilient ring is removed for repair or replacement, then, a second valve seat or secondary seat is provided by means of the frustoconical surface 30 on the valve member 22 engaging with the complementary surface 32 of the valve body. By virtue of this construction of the first seating means with both a primary and a secondary seal, it will be evident that if the retaining member 28 should be removed for repair or replacement, the valve 22 will still make a sealing engagement with the valve body and there is no necessity for removal of the filler valve from the tubular connecting member 12.

The second seating means25 within the valve body 16 are provided by the lower extremity of the valve body 16 as indicated at 34.-The second valve member 36 cooperates with cooperation between the valveme nbers 22 and 36, it is noted that secured at its upper end to the valve member 22- is a valve stem 38. The second valve member 36 is slidably supported on the lower portion of the valve stem 38. The valve stem 38 is guided for sliding movement within a valve stem guide 40- which is suitably secured to the valve body 16 and retained in place for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by crimping the .end of the valve body 16 inwardly. The valve stem guide 4.0 is in the form ofa central hub and spokes (as will best be seen in FIG. 4), so as to provide for fluid flow through the flow passage 21 defined in the valve body 16.

Disposed between the top of the valve stem guide 40 and the valve member 22 is a spring 44 for biasing the valve 22 to 36 and the lower end of the spring 46 bears upon a washer 48 which is retained in place on the valve stem 38 by suitable fastening means for example, by flattening the end of the valve stem as indicated at 50.

As seen in Fig. l, the filler valve may be provided with a suitable cap 52 which cooperates with the Acme threads 20 for protecting the threads in shipment and handling of the tiller valves and whichexcludes dirt from entering within the tiller valve. The cap 52 further provides an auxiliary seal when the filler valve 10 is not in use. The cap 52 may include a depending flange 53 which is adapted to abut against a washer gasket 54 for maintaining same in place. When the tiller valve 10 is to be used, the cap 52 is removed and the conduit or filler connection 15 is secured to the filler valve as indicated in FIG. 2. The conduit or filler connection includes a portion that engages with the threads and another portion which abuts the washer gasket 54, whereby the washer gasket 54 effects a seal between the filler valve body 16 and the filler connection 15 during liquid transfer operations.

For use in filling operation, the cap 52 is removed and the filler connection 15 is secured to the valve body 16 as indicated in FIG. 2. A valve (not shown) in the conduit betweenthe filler connection and the source of fluid to be charged into the pressure tank 14 is opened. The pressure of the fluid will force the first valve member 22 downwardly permitting the flow of fluid through the flow passage 21 in the tubular body 16. The second valve member 36 will be opened and will move downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2 permitting the' pressurized fluid to be discharged in a spray through the tubular connecting member 12 into the tank 14.

The compressed gas industry'has for years accepted the fact that, if when filling a pressure container the fluid is made to spray into the tank rather than enter in a straight stream, the filling time would be less. One theory as to why spray filling retards the pressure buildup during a filling operation is that the spray exposes more liquid area to the vapor and picks up vapor and carries it into the liquid. Another theory is that the liquid is cooler than the vapor and the cooler liquid cools the vapor causing it to liquefy. The netresult is that by spray filling, vapor pressure buildup is retarded and the faster filling results.

With the arrangement of parts as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 an extremely long travel of the lower back check valve or second valve 36 is permitted away from the valve seat 34. The valve stem 38 can move downwardly until the bottom of valve member 22 abuts the top ofguide 40. Then, the second valve 36 can slide downwardly on the valve stem 38. Such movement of the valve 36 away from seat 34 is much greater than if the valve stem were fixed in the valve body. The longer travel of the second valve 36 away from the seat 34 permits greater flow capacity because the second valve 36 travels beyond the bottom of the connecting member 12. The result of this configuration of filler valve is that a cone-type spray discharge of fluid into the tank is obtained as indicated in FIG. 2.

During filling operation if there should be a loss of pressure, the spring 46 will bias the valve 36 to its seated position to prevent the outflow of fluid from the pressure tank 14. The valves 22 and 36 are each opened by the differential pressure acting on the respective valve member to overcome the biasing force of the springs 44 and 46, respectively.

A feature of the present invention is the construction of the first seating means 23. The primary seal 24 comprises a resilient ring which is readily replaceable without removing the filler valve body 16 from the tubular connecting member 12. The annular retaining member 28 is provided with a noncircular opening 56. As shown in. FIG. 3, for example, the opening 56 in retaining member 28 is hexagonal. A hexagonal bar having an external configuration complementary to that of the opening 56 may be inserted into the mating internal hexagonal opening of the disc retainer or retaining member 28 for threading the retaining member 28 out from the valve body 16, thereby exposing the seat ring or valve disc 24 for repair or replacement. Upon removal of the seat ring or disc retainer 28, the valve plug or first valve member 22 will move up \vardly and shoulder on the enlarged diameter of the valve plug or first valve 22. The annular frustoconical surface 30 on the valve plug 22 moves into engagement with the seat defined in the shoulder ofthe valve body. This arrangement provides a secondary or auxiliary sealing function in addition to the sealing function provided by the second valve 36 bearing against the valve seat 34 for reducing the outflow of fluid from the pressure tank to a safe level during the replacement of the seat ring 24.

The washer gasket or seat ring 24 also functions to provide a seal between the retaining member 28 and the valve body.

There has been provided by the present invention an improved filler valve for use with a pressurized fluid or compressed gas such as LP-gas, anhydrous ammonia, or the like. The upper seating means includes a primary seating surface which is formed from a resilient ring member and a secondary or auxiliary seating surface formed by engagement of the first valve member with a shoulder of the valve body. The resilient ring 24 is repairable with the filler valve installed in the pressure tank and with the container under pressure.

The filler valve of the present invention is further constructed'and arranged so as to provide for a long travel of the second valve 36 away from its valve seat to provide for spray filling of the pressure tank. The second valve 36 is slidably carried on a valve stem 38, which valve stem 38 is secured at its upper end to a first valve member 22 for movement therewith. The valve stem 38 can be moved so as to fully travel the first valve member away from the first seating means without moving the second valve member 46 from the second seating means 25. The second valve member 46 is movable independently of the first valve member 22. The spring for biasing the second valve member 46 closed is carried below the valve member. Thus, when the filler valve is in operation, the first valve member 22 will be moved downwardly away from its valve seat, causing the valve stem 38 to be moved downwardly. The second valve member thereby has an extended length of travel along the lower portion of the valve stem. The movement of the valve member 36 is below the tubular coupling 12 and the result is that there is a spray filling of the container. Further, by virtue of the arrangement of the first and second valve members on the stem 38, it is not possi ble to block the lower back check valve or second valve member 38 open as is sometimes done when it is desired to empty a container. This is a safety feature of the present arrangement of parts in the filler valve 10.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention. Therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A filler valve for a pressure container adapted to receive a pressurized fluid comprising a tubular body having a flow passage therethrough, first valve seat means in said body, stem guide means in said body, a valve stem slidable in said stem guide means, a first valve member on one end of the valve stem adapted to cooperate with said first valve seat means, first spring means biasing the first valve member toward seating engagement with the first valve seat means, second valve seat means on said body, a second valve member slidable on said valve stem and adapted to cooperate with said second valve seat means and second spring means biasing the second valve member toward seating engagement with the second valve seat means, the second spring means being disposed between the second valve member and an end of the valve stem, whereby the valve stem can be moved to fully travel the first valve member away from its associated valve seat means without moving the second valve member away from its associated valve means, said first valve seat means comprising a first seat and a second seat, the first valve member being adapted to engage the first seat for normal operation, the first seat being removably supported in the body for ease of repair and replacement, the first valve member seating against the second seat when the first seat is removed from the body to provide auxiliary seating.

2. A filler valve as in claim 1, wherein the valve stem is elongated so as to provide for a long travel of the second valve member thereon, whereby the second valve member can be moved from its seated position against the second seat means to a remote position away from the second seat means to permit increased flow capacity and spray filling of the pressure container.

3. A filler'valve as in claim 1, wherein the first seat cornprises a resilient ring removably retained in the body by a disc retainer, the disc retainer being removably secured to the body, the ring extending inwardly into the flow passage through the body and the first valve member cooperating with the ring to seal theflow passage.

4. A filler valve as in claim 1 wherein the second seat comprises an annular shoulder formed in the body.

5. A filler valve for "use with a pressure container having a tubular connection in the top thereof a filler valve comprising a one-piece tubular body having a flow passage therethrough said bodybeing affixed to said tubular connection firstvalve position away from the second s eatimeans and below the lower end of said tubular connection to permit spray filling of the pressure container.

6. A filler valve as in claim 5, wherein said first valve seat means comprises a first seat and a second seat, the first seat comprising a resilient ring removably retained in the body by a disc retainer, the disc retainer being removably secured to the body, the ring extending inwardly into the flow passage seat means in said body, stem guide means in said body,'a

valve stem slidable in said stem guide means, a first valve member on one end of the valve stem adapted to cooperate with said first valve'se at means-first spring means biasing the first valve member toward seating engagement with the first valve seat means, second valve seat means on said body. a-

through the body and the first valve member cooperating with the'ring to seal the flow passage, the resilient ring also functioning as a seal between the'disc retainer and the valve body.

7; A' filler valve for a pressure container adapted'to receive a pressurized fluid comprising a tubular body having a flow passage therethrough, first valve seat means in said body,

valve stem means slidable in said body, a first valve member on one end of the valve stem means adapted to cooperate with said first valve seat means, first spring means biasing the first valve stem being movable to fully travel the first valve member away from its associated valve seat means without moving the second valve member away from its associated valve seat means, thesecond valve member being movable from its seated positionagainst the second'seat means to. a remote valvemembertoward seating engagement with the first valve seatmeans, second valve seat means in said body, a second valve member slidable on said valve stem and adapted to cooperate with said second valve seat means and second spring means biasing the second valve member toward seating engagement with the second valve seat means, whereby the valve stem can be moved to fully travel the first valve member away from its associated'valve seat means without moving the second valve mernber away from its associated valve seat means, the second spring means being disposed between the second valve member and retaining means on an end of the valve stem. 

